StatsCan flub prompts change in methodology

Meanwhile, consumer price index retrofit wraps up

By Sabrina Nanji

09/02/2014|Canadian Labour Reporter|Last Updated: 09/02/2014

July’s jobs data was bleak — or so we thought.

Statistics Canada initially released the Labour Force Survey in August as planned, but retracted the information, citing an error. Days later, the corrected jobs report was re-released, noting the Canadian economy added almost 42,000 jobs in July, as opposed to the originally reported 200 positions.

Sylvie Michaud, director-general of education, labour and income statistics, said the agency is undergoing an internal review process, the report for which is due out in a few weeks. Included in it will be recommendations for new checks and balances to ensure another such error won’t happen again.